Outside Magazine, Mar 2012

This month in Outside

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Aksel Svindal, the new King of Downhill Racing Photo: Samo Vidic

THE DANGER ISSUEQUADZILLAAlpine powerhouse Aksel Svindal’s 2007 World Cup wipeout was epic—a 72-mile-per-hour launch that propelled him 197 feet through the air and ended with a ski impaling his backside. Four years later, the Norwegian reflects on the crash, the recovery, and his quick return to the podium. By Hampton Sides

OPEN YOUR MOUTH AND YOU’RE DEADFaces turning blue. Noses gushing blood. Welcome to the free-diving world championships—where, if you can withstand your lungs collapsing to the size of oranges, you might come away with a medal. (And your life.) Plus: the author takes a freediving lesson. By James Nestor

AS LONG AS THEY BOTH SHALL LIVERex and Melissa Pemberton fell in love while BASE jumping in Australia, got engaged (with the aid of an avalanche beacon) in Antarctica, and now fly aerobatics routines around the world. The only problem? The nagging fear they’re about to be widowed. By Brian Mockenhaupt

GAME OVERBarefoot Bandit Colton Harris-Moore shot to infamy in 2010 with a multistate crime spree involving five stolen planes and a getaway run to the Bahamas. In an excerpt from his new book, Bob Frielreconstructs the cat-and-mouse pursuit that brought him down.

departmentsDISPATCHESFirst Look: Monkey see, monkey—please don’t! How the proliferation of wearable video cameras is changing the way we play. Media: Nick Waggoner confronts death in his arty, surprisingly poignant new ski film, Solitaire.Fear Factor: Six nightmare scenarios that keep the best adventurers up at night.Plus: A disaster glossary.Fatal Data: Why so many BASE jumps end in tragedy.Travel: The PR spin that keeps tourists coming when rabies, kidnappings, and other calamities make headlines. Lifesavers: We crack the evolution of the safety helmet. Plus: Does your lid really keep you safe?

DESTINATIONSBasic Training: From hidden fishing rivers in Chile to mountain biking in Whistler, our guide shows you where to go and the gear you’ll need to take your adventures to the next level.

THE ESSENTIALSCovet: A well-equipped running shoe that weighs almost nothing. Trail Bound: A light hiker, a beefy runner, and a featherweight hybrid, plus three more kicks for off-road action. Spring Suite: The gear you need for the return of running season, and a survival story in a singlet.

STYLEWatches: Six killer timepieces, and seven things to keep in mind when choosing one.

BODYWORK Yes You Can... Ride the Rockies: This 446-mile bike tour features stunning scenery and some of Colorado’s most lung-searing climbs. Our training schedule and nutrition tips will get you ready for six days in the saddle.

columnsDROPPING INTwo baseball squads square off at San Quentin State Prison. One never leaves. Abe Streep heads to Northern California to play hardball with hardened criminals. Plus: A guide to prison sporting events.

OUT THERE The route would include hanging rappels and cliff-face scrambles. Perfect for 78-year-old Dad, right? Maybe not. Dave Hahn learns the hard way in Yosemite’s Tenaya Canyon.